Arteta: “What Iraola has done is incredible” | Quotes | News

Mikel Arteta praised AFC Bournemouth’s performances this season in his pre-match press conference at the Sobha Realty Training Center on Friday afternoon.

The Cherries travel to Emirates Stadium for Saturday’s 12:30pm kick-off with their highest Premier League points tally (48) confirmed following last weekend’s 3-0 win at home to Brighton & Hove Albion.

However, things were not easy for the south coast side at the start of Iraola’s tenure, as Bournemouth began the season without a win in their first nine league games, a run which included our 4-0 win at Vitality Stadium.

“They had a very difficult start also in terms of matches and that was a huge factor,” Mikel said, “but you could see that the team was always close to getting a result and creating a lot of problems for the opponent.

“We talked after our game. When you are in those periods, sometimes you don’t want to talk to anyone! But we had a little conversation there about my experiences and what I’ve been through and sometimes that helps.

“You have to give him credit, he has remained firm in his beliefs, he is a very good coach, a great person, I have known him since we were very little and I wish him all the best.”

As Mikel alluded to, he and Iraola were childhood companions at the Antiguoko Kirol Elkartea in San Sebastián during the 90s, so it is not surprising that our coach is proud of the work Iraola has done this season.

“Fantastic job,” he said. “To come to the Premier League and do what he has done is a huge credit to him, the coaching staff and the players, obviously. They had a rough start, continued with what they believed in and gave him great credit.

“It’s incredible what they’ve done and the way they’ve done it, which, in my opinion, is also very important. Congratulations because it is a fantastic achievement.”

Click here to read every word of Mikel’s pre-Bournemouth press conference.